When eighth-generation farmer Bill Haak set out to build a dairy farm on 300 acres in Benton County, his first call was to the Arkansas Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Bentonville Field Office where he spoke with Mike Whitis, the Bentonville Field Office District Conservationist. What followed was hours spent bumping across pastures on a brisk winter day, site-selection decisions made in worn-down winter coats, and countless on-farm problem-solving sessions. This became the foundation for a partnership powered by trust and the kind of practical ingenuity farmers and NRCS field staff are known for. 

     “Mike earned my trust by his actions and that made all the difference,” Haak said. “He had the insight, the wisdom, and the desire to do what was in the best interest of farmers. He was there every step of the way, helping and guiding as we poured the concrete and built the dairy.” 

     Now, his pasture-based dairy stands as an Arkansas success built on relationships, practical design, resourcefulness and science, with a close partnership between Haak, the NRCS Bentonville Field Office and the on-farm monitoring of University of Arkansas Extension’s Discovery Farms program. With NRCS guidance and U of A Extension support, Haak implemented a practical waste management system tailored for pasture-based dairy farming using the following process: 

• Dry scraping to remove nearly all solids from the milking parlor 
• Mixing solids with sawdust and composted in a stacking shed to minimize odors and recycle nutrients 
• Washing water flows into a concrete basin fitted with a mesh “weeping wall” that separates remaining solids from liquids
• Moving waste into a dense grass interception area, which captures nutrients and slows movement downhill

     This transition in 2018 led to Haak’s farm being labeled as a Discovery Farm site. Program researchers conducted a five-year study to monitor water-quality runoff by sampling the treatment system, soils along the transects, and the pond where the runoff accumulated. The data showed the grass field efficiently contained nutrients, with no nutrient runoff detected from the dairy operation under monitored conditions. The findings, published by the Discovery Program team, helped build public trust and confidence as well as demonstrated how NRCS-supported design paired with on-farm science can deliver positive environmental outcomes.

     Pasture-based dairies and soil moisture go hand-in-hand. How well soils infiltrate water, how forages access it, and how managers time their moves, all play a key role in selecting the best process and resources to be successful. Working with the NRCS and the Extension, Haak and Whitis adapted water distribution system techniques for cattle by installing nine watering facilities throughout the area. The shared ingenuity between the two made the farm’s water supply experiment a success, strengthening summer production and improving resilience.

     “The goal was simple,” Haak said. “Use new water distribution techniques to make smarter pasture decisions and take care of the cattle.” 

     Successful rotational grazing paid off for Haak in soil health, milk and animal well-being. With NRCS technical assistance and financial support, Haak Family Farms implemented rotational grazing using different practices available in Arkansas. Management choices were guided by Extension recommendations, such as avoiding fertilizer placement on saturated soils ahead of heavy rain, and on-farm observations. Haak found that rye grain established faster and competed better with Bermuda in Fall, which delivered early grazing. Mixed plantings such as oats and rye planted in alternate directions, improved stand success and increased milk response when the cows grazed on oats. 

     At a recent NRCS roundtable in Northwest Arkansas, Haak expressed that farmers in the area want to connect with consumers, especially in the fast-growing regions where many neighbors have never visited a farm. 

     “Farmers want people to know they are environmental stewards,” he said. “We are intent on passing on land and water better than we receive it. Through Discovery Farms studies, we can show zero nutrient runoff from our dairy. When farmers can tell their stories with facts, consumers see the reality of what we’re doing to protect and improve the environment.” 

     Looking ahead, Haak Family Farms will accelerate practical, science-based improvements that strengthen soil, protect water, and extend grazing days. In close partnership with NRCS and Extension, the farm will refine composting, deepen water-smart pasture management, and continue sharing clear results through Discovery Farms, opening the door to opportunities like carbon markets. With NRCS’s planning and engineering support, the path forward is resilient and optimistic, proving that conservation and productivity can grow together.